Google’s last Wave has struck the beach. It’s hard to untangle what may have contributed to it: the lack of reaching a critical mass of adopters, or not communicating with external email applications, or aspects of its interface that were deemed too complicated for users, or even the heavy load it may have imposed on Google’s servers in handling instant updates to content that might not scale up very well with increased adoption.
Despite thoroughly enjoying all of the synchronous and asynchronous collaborative features in the early brainstorming and outlining of the new version of the Strategic Networking book, it’s all over by the end of 2010.
That’s a shame because I don’t believe I will find the utility of seeing instant changes in draft text occurring between myself and my co-author that supported our desire to write this book in a purely collaborative manner, rather than writing sections or chapters as separate drafts and editing each other’s work. And the utility of creating separate Waves devoted to stages in the writing process, sections in the book, or the feedback of other (invited) Wave users was another feature I will miss.
Although I have used many applications for online collaboration since co-writing my first book, I enjoyed this one and will sadly “wave” a goodbye to it.
As for those who envisioned it as part of a failed social networking strategy, I don’t agree. For me, it was (as with most Google online applications) a useful online tool for getting something done and doing that work with others online.
I am interested in knowing what other applications for online collaboration might be candidates for highly interactive, collaborative brainstorming and writing in this manner – and welcome your comments in reply.
